DOCTOR URGES

A BROADMEADOWS doctor has started a campaign to combat what he calls the
beginning of a crystal methylamphetamine epidemic.

Crystal methylamphetamine, commonly known as "ice" or crystal meth, is a
stimulant that is increasing in popularity with young recreational drug users.

Doctor Chris Towie started the campaign because he began to feel unsafe and
feared for his life after he was attacked three months ago in his Olsen
Place clinic.

"A man got quite violent and started kicking me in the waiting room,
unprovoked - he is a nice guy, he is a terrific guy actually," Dr Towie said.

"But there is visible violence on the streets and it sometimes spills into
the clinic and it is almost invariably related to methylamphetamine."

Dr Towie told Star he had noticed a big increase in the use of crystal meth
in the past two years, especially the past eight months and planned to work
with politicians to begin solving the problem.

"The use of ice or crystal meth and the problems that are associated with
that are of a different character and much more dangerous than the other
drugs that have been popular over the last 20 years," Dr Towie said.

"The thing with crystal meth, which is what we have noticed in the last two
years, is the upswing in the amount of inappropriate violence towards
strangers.

"Crystal meth users just become angry with wherever or whatever is in front
of them and unpredictably they become very paranoid.

"Users have feelings of persecution, that they are being ridiculed or
people are having a go at them," he said.

Dr Towie, who gained media prominence in the immigration case involving
Aziza Agha who is now dead, met Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou last week to
discuss the need for mental health reform in Victoria.

"Using drugs - not always, but particularly using them inappropriately - is
a sign of mental illness.

"People who are mentally ill use drugs but, conversely, people who use
drugs can become mentally ill.

"It's not clear which is more important but from a treatment point of view
it doesn't really matter because you have to treat both."

Dr Towie told Star three things need to happen in order to start addressing
the problem.

"General practitioners need immediate access to crisis assessment teams,"
he said.

"There needs to be an expansion of services to deal with violent, acutely
psychotic patients where it is drug-induced.

"We also need to look very seriously at involuntary admissions for treating
people where drug dependency or drug abuse could be an indicator of an
underlying psychiatric or mental illness, and isn't that always the case."

Ms Vamvakinou said she was concerned about local health care and looked
forward to working with doctors such as Dr Towie.

"I am pleased to know that in my area, doctors like Chris Towie exist, who
have a strong social conscience and a will to see the community better
serviced by health care facilities," she said.